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Dec. 1, 2008

Senior DE Brian Orakpo has been named one of four finalists for the 2008 Lott Trophy, honoring the nation's top defensive IMPACT player, The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has announced.

Orakpo becomes Texas' second finalist for the award in its five-year history, following LB Derrick Johnson in 2004.

Orakpo is also a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy (nation's top defensive player) and Lombardi Award (nation's top interior lineman), and on the mid-season watch list for the Hendricks Award (nation's top defensive end).

This season, Orakpo has made 40 tackles (29 solo) and leads the team with 10.5 sacks, which is tied for sixth nationally, 18 TFL, which is tied for the 11th-most nationally, four forced fumbles, which is tied for the third-most nationally, and 27 pressures, despite being limited in two and a half games with a knee injury. He has twice been named the Lott Trophy National Defensive Player of the Week. In four games against Top 25 opponents this season, he has notched 16 tackles, three sacks, seven TFL, nine pressures and a forced fumble.

For his career, Orakpo has tallied 130 tackles (91 solo), 21 sacks, 37 TFL, 59 pressures, six PBD, six forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 46 games (20 starts).

Aaron Curry of Wake Forest, James Laurinaitis of Ohio State and Myron Rolle of Florida State are the other finalists who will join Orakpo in Newport Beach, Calif., where the winner will be announced at a black-tie banquet on Dec. 14.

Named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, The Lott Trophy equally recognizes athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player. Sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, the Lott award is given to a player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation and Legends Coaches, a distinguished group of former head college coaches.

Each finalist receives $5,000 for his school's general scholarship fund and the university of the winner receives $25,000.

The keynote speaker will be long-time college football announcer Keith Jackson.